The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-10
GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL
Listen to Petitions for Pardon From
Thomaston Prisoners.
Finding Out Who Caught Graves,
the Came Wardens' Murderer.
The Claimants Cases as Presented
by Their Lawyers.
Especial to the PREss.l

AUGUSTA, Aug. 9.-At the session Oh tne
Governor and Council today, w. H. Looney,
Esq, of Portland, pleaded that pardon
might be granted Charles 81. Keenan,, in the
State Prison for murder in the first degree.
Keenan, belonged in Portland, and while in
drunken row with man named johnson,
stabbed him so that he died. Keenan, has
been in prison since February IA, 1867, when
he was committed, and has been well be-
haved prisoner. Coy. Chamberlain COM
muted a sentence of murder to Imprisonment
for life. The attorney concluded on reyeiw-
ing the evidence that it did not warrant
NOR than verdict of manslaughter and he
had served nearly three terms for that crime.
Keenan's petition was one of the strongest
ever presented to the Council and the fact
that Gov. Chamberlain, who was firm be-
lever in capital punishment, should commute
his sentence was sufficient evidence to him
of the injustice of the sentence. Ex-Warden
Rice, now of Wollaston, Mass. took the
stand and urged pardon very strongly. 'If
ever there was case," he said, "that de-
served executive clemency it is this one"
He brought up Keenan's war record, which
was one to be proud of. The verdict of muir
der he regarded as much more that the evil
dence would warrant. He had heard Gov.
Chamberlain say that keenan,, at the worst,
was but guilty of manslaughter and he
should be pardoned after serving ten years.
The case of Leslie johnson, an inmate of
the Insane Hospital, was next considered
and Superintendent Sanborn enlightened the
board. johnson hired horse in Portland
to go to Gorham but instead drove to Brigh-
ton, where he was overhauled by the officers.
lie was trie0 for larceny and sentenced to
State Prison for three years and a half May
20, 1885, After entering the prison he be-
came partially insane and was committed to
the hospital on certificate from the Cover
nor and Council Recently he had acquired
his senses and was well man. The super
intendent left it with the Council to do as
they pleased with him.
The Fight for the Reward.
The grab for the $1,000 reward for the cap
ture of Graves, the Fletcher Brook mur-
derer. then commenced. The first claimants
to appear were Sheriff Fields and Deputy
Sheriff Devereaux of Hancock county, they
were represented by A. p. Wiswell,
Esq, of Ellsworth. They claimed
that they were entitled to half of the
$1,000 reward offered by Governor Robie
for the arrest of Graves and Mcfarland i'm
mediately after the murder. After MeFar-
lands capture a second reward of $1,000 was
offered for the apprehension of Graves
Marshal Whitney claims $1,000 for the catch
but $1,000 appropriated and all are after
II, the contest was quite a lively one.
Mr.. Wiswell urged that the Hancock county
officers should have the $500. The reward
was offered on the Friday preceding Sunday
the 14th Of November when Mcfarland anne
forth and hsmsalf mn m
Devereanx, although no public notice was
given thl ough the press until Monday the
18th. He c0ntended that the statement by
Councillor Hatch on Friday, that he had Off
news by Associated Press was sufficient
Mr. Wiswell thought the conditions were diff
1erent than they were last winter when
Fields and Doyereaux asked for share of
the reward unsuccessfully. The Legislature
had passed resolution giving $1,000 to the
person or persons equitable or legally en-
titled to the reward who should arrest, re-
turn and deliver Graves into custody.
Oficer Devereaux testified that he was
knowing to the fact that reward had been
arrest.
Lewis A. Barker, Esq, counsel for officers
Whitney and Allen of Bangor, did not be-
lieve that the Hancock officers had any
claim whatever to the reward or any portion
of it. 1t had not been finally decided on to
published notice did not appear until Mon
day morning. Officer Allen was called to
see ex-Councillor s. c. Hatch on Sunday
night and he had decided finally to offer the
reward but short time previously, having
received instructions from Governor Robie
The next claimant for reward money was
Herbert Z. Penney, a cousin of Graves He
resides in Amherst and in some way OBJ
tained information by which he ascertained
that Graves was residing in Oakland. Cal,
communicated with officer Allen that he
knew something about the matter, and a
contract was signed by Mr.. Allen as follows
BANGOR, Jan. IT. 1887.
nerah mals Is 10 certify that Thomas 4. Allen, do
the sum of S400 on the following condition: That
he will on this day disclose TO me the wherea-
thermore agreed that said S4oo shall be % portion
Of the reward now offered by the State Of Maine
for the arrest and conviction of said Graves as
murderer of Niles and HILL
THOMAS F. ALLEN
Il. M. STILwELL, witness.
Mr.. Penney then gave Allen all the infor-
nation whict he possessed.
.Messrs. Allen snd Whitney, however, tes-
tined that they knew all about Grayes's
whereabouts five or six days previous to the
| drawing up of the contract and as thew
found nothing new did not think the reward
ought to be divided.
City Marshal n. r. Thomas, and his de-
NSSSs'S, 1f' Loilduu, Wtlc ItpICStubbu DY
| sworn affidavits which were presented to the
Council by the Secretary of State. They
CANNED the entire reward because they made
the arrest. They were much surprised that
there should be any other claimants be-
sides themselves. Among the papers was
the original letter forwarded by City Mar
shal Whitney to his cousin in Oakland, d.
recting him to have the arrest made.
line last claim came from Fred S. Petten-
gill and J, b. Longfellow, the Washington
county officers who hunted the prisoners af-
ter the murder, They thought they had as
| good claim as Devereaux and Fields.
Alvin York's Petition.
A pardon was asked for Alvin York of
China, in State prison under two years
sentence for larceny. Hiram Bliss, ESQ.,, of
| Washington appeared for him.
Isaac r. Pearl of Portland petitioned for a
| pardon, his counsel being Hon. j. E. Moore
| of Thomaston. He was sentenced in 1884
for larceny for a term of four years. The
usual grounds of excessive sentence, insuf
| icient evidence, etc., were offered.
The Council adjourned to meet at s a. m.